LEGAL ADVISORY SERVICES
In 2009, our Firm was retained by a major Construction Company in Nigeria to offer legal advise and representation on an impending dispute between it and two major Oil Companies in Nigeria as touching on the terms and conditions of an EPIC Contract worth over $84 million dollars for the construction of an Oil Field Logistic Base in Gbaran-Ubie, Bayelsa State of Nigeria.


MULTI MILLION DOLLAR SUIT FOR THE PROTECTION OF MINORITY RIGHTS OF A SHAREHOLDER
Sometime in 2008, a Multi-National Oil Major in Nigeria quoted on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange sought to divest its majority interests in favour of another corporate entity without compliance with the Nigeria Regulatory framework on divestment of publicly quoted shares. The services of our Dispute Resolution Group was retained by a Minority Share Holder in the Oil Major for legal advice and representation in a multi-million dollar suit initiated before the Investment and Securities Tribunal, Federal High Court and presently at the Court of Appeal.

MEDIATED BETWEEN TWO MAJOR NIGERIAN COMPANIES
In 2008, a Partner (Kehinde Aina) of the Firm successfully mediated a multi-million dollars dispute between the foremost Construction Company in Nigeria and the foremost Oil Company in Nigeria culminating in a Settlement Agreement duly executed by the Chief Executives of the said Companies.


TRANSACTION COUNSEL
In 2007, we were appointed as Transaction Counsel by Intercontinental Bank Plc on its N50 Billion Public offer of irredeemable, Non-cumulative convertible preferences shares involving five international investors

CONSULTANTS TO THE WORLD BANK
In 2006, The World Bank appointed one of our partners, Kehinde Aina as its Legal Consultant. Kehinde Aina and the other team members have, since the appointment remained a primary resource and representative to this international body on a number of research projects and commercial transactions.



LARGEST M&A DEALS IN BANKING INDUSTRY IN NIGERIA.
When in July 2005, the Central Bank of Nigeria directed the recapitalization of banks in the country; Aina Blankson became a well sought after source for advice, consultation and representation to most of the then 89 banks in the country including the regulatory authorities. Apart from conducting Legal Due Diligence on 42 of the banks, Aina Blankson was involved in no less than half of the merger transactions including Intercontinental Bank, Sterling Bank, Unity Bank and Skye Bank.



SOLICITOR TO BIGGEST CAPITAL MARKET TRANSACTION
When in 2006, Intercontinental Bank Plc, one of Nigeria’s leading Banks was to raise N50Billion ($367.7 Million USD) from Nigeria’s capital market through a rather unique multiple transaction model of private placement, offer for subscription and irredeemable preference shares, it appointed Aina Blankson as Sole Solicitors to the Offer given the firm’s notable track record in local and international capital market transactions.



CONSULTANT ON $650MILLION PORTS TRANSACTION
In December 2005, Seaquest Technologies, (Canada); world renown experts in marine technology & security sought the firm’s expertise on a transaction involving the implementation of a seamless marine information technology infrastructure solution for the Nigerian Ports Authority (Project 3im) in the port zones of Lagos, Port Harcourt, Calabar and Warri. The sheer complexity and size of the nearly One Billion dollar transaction and its sensitive nature stands it out as one of the biggest transactions of its kind in Africa.



LEGAL CONSULTANT ON THE NIGERIAN 25YEAR RAIL SYSTEM PROGRAM
For many years, Aina Blankson has championed the development of Nigeria’s transportation and infrastructure sector as a key facilitator of economic and social development. It was no surprise that when the Nigerian Government sought for expertise to form a consortium of professional advisers for its 25 year Railway development plan, Aina Blankson was one of the first to be approached, by the consultant.



OIL & GAS PROJECT FINANCE
The Bonga Oil Field Project remains one of the largest in sub Saharan Africa as the production platform represents the Nigerian government’s most ambitious offshore production project to date. Given the well respected expertise of Aina Blankson in Oil & Gas transactions, the firm was required to provide guidance and advice on the project.



RECIPIENT OF THE ICG PRESIDENTIAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE
When the International Commerce Group (ICG), a global trading corporation based in Rhode Island, USA decided to expand its trade operations into Africa, it turned to Aina Blankson for advise on the best entry strategies to adopt and the environmental and regulatory due diligence that was required to establish trading outposts. The Firm assisted the ICG in its forays into Guinea, Ethiopia and South Africa and later retained the Firm in its expansion into South America, notably Brazil. We remain the sole Legal Advisors to ICG and in 2005 received the Corporation’s “Presidential Award for Excellence”



FIRST LAW FIRM AS PEACE BUILDER IN AFRICA
Of all the impediments to progress and development in Africa, none appears more stifling as the conflicts in the region and the overburdened justice system; both hallmarks of the continent. In appreciation of the place of peace to business development, AinaBlankson in 1996 established the Negotiation and Conflict Management Group (NCMG) as a non-profit institution to help foster peace and justice sector reform. Today, the NCMG which started from the firm’s conference room in 1996 has become a household name and a beacon of light for the continent, the judiciary and the central agent of change in Nigeria.



FOUNDED THE FIRST COURT CONNECTED ADR CENTRE IN AFRICA.
With a conviction on the promise of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to the overburdened justice system in Nigeria, Aina Blankson, in 2002 (after 8 years of relentless campaign to have ADR as part of the judicial landscape in Africa), partnered with the High Court of Lagos and the NCMG in establishing the first court connected ADR centre in Africa. The Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse. Today, the initiative which has been replicated in Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja, is fast becoming a national reference point and an international phenomenon.

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